Chapter 1
“Are you coming?”
Glinda stared at the green girl, her mind torn between the two options presented to her.
On one hand, she could go with Elphaba, but how would that end for her?
Together, we’re unlimited.
Were they? Were the two of them truly enough to face this. She knew how much Elphaba cared about the Animals — far more than Glinda ever could — and she knew that there was nothing she could do to change the green girl’s mind. The only thing she could do was make a choice.
If she stayed with the wizard, she could have luxuries beyond her wildest imagination, if he chose to accept her. Even if he didn’t, she could go back to Shiz and pretend none of this happened. She could go back to Fiyero, — her boyfriend — her friends, and her old life.
But could she ever go back to her old life? And the more persistent question; could she go back to a life without Elphie? Could she wake up to an empty room — something she’d once so desperately wanted at one point, but couldn’t imagine anymore. Could she walk through the halls of Shiz without Elphie to hold onto.
It was insane how much this girl had wormed her way into Glinda’s life in an irrevocable way.
If she left with Elphaba, she would become a fugitive, an enemy of the state. If she stayed, she would have to live life without Elphaba.
It didn’t take her long to decide which of the two would be a worse fate.
“Just give me one second.” She chirped, moving over to the dusty old rack and pulling out the cloak that caught her eye. She could feel green eyes following her.
“What are you…?”
“It suits your aesthetic.” She bit out a watery laugh. “Now, are we doing this?”
“Are you sure?” Elphaba’s brows knit together and Glinda wanted so badly to smooth that crease away. “I need you to be sure. Because it will be dangerous.”
And Ozdammit, Glinda would be lying if she said she wasn’t scared. But her mind was made up and nothing could change it. She would be fine as long as she had her Elphie. “I’m sure.”
With a terrifying bang, the doors burst open and guards in emerald uniform flooded the room.
“Grab on!” Elphaba says, panic evident in her voice.
It’s only when Glinda has swung her leg over the broom and Elphaba has neared the edge of the broken window that a thought occurs to her, one which should have occurred to them before. “Have you done this before?”
“Oh yeah! I definitely have flown on a flying broom enchanted by an ancient book before?”
“I don’t appreciate your sarcasm, Elphaba! We could die!”
“I guess we’re about to find out.” With that, she leaps from the balcony, just in time for Glinda to feel the brush of a gloved hand against her leg.
Then they were falling, a horrible weightless sensation which made Glinda’s stomach drop as the ground rushed up to meet her. She can’t see Elphie anywhere. Glinda squeezed her eyes shut. Maybe she was already dead, Maybe she’d be joining her soon. Maybe-
Strong arms encircled her as her body made unpleasant contact with a strip of wood. “It’s okay.” The voice instantly calmed her racing and incoherent thoughts. “I’ve got you.”
“Elphie?” She whimpered.
“You’re safe, Glinda.”
The arms adjusted her until she was in a more comfortable position. It gave her the confidence to crack her eyes open. The view, despite the terrifying feeling of flying, was strangely mesmerising. The emerald city sparkled beneath them, a sea of guards who were too dumbstruck to fire their weapons gaped open mouthed at them, one woman stood at the front, her eyes narrowed as she glared at the two girls.
It represented their destroyed dreams, a life that could have been, but never truly, not with the Wizard being the way he was.
And as Elphaba flew them away and the sight grew smaller and more distant, details fading into a mash of colours, that was all Glinda could think about.
They landed after a long time. Glinda was exhausted, her clothes were dirty, her throat was parched, and her stomach grumbled embarrassingly loudly.
She couldn’t tell what Elphaba was thinking. The girl gazed up at the Vinkan night sky, an incomprehensible look on her face. Though, Glinda supposed she kind of knew how the girl was feeling. The emotions swirled inside her, bringing a lump to her throat.
Today was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. They were supposed to meet the Wizard, then Elphaba would get offered a position as his assistant or apprentice, she could make the changes she wanted, make Oz a better place, and Glinda would be right by her side as she became popular, as she accomplished everything Glinda knew she could.
Instead, everything had gone so horribly wrong and their lives had changed completely. Her momsie and popsicle would be distraught at the news and she supposed her relationship with Fiyero was over. It wasn’t working out too well even before all of this. They both didn’t want each other, and Glinda wanted something entirely different, someone entirely different.
Their one short day in the emerald city juxtaposed so much with the more recent events of the day that felt like a lifetime ago.
Oz, was it really the same day?
“Elphie?” she whispered tentatively as she witnessed her friend’s shoulders shaking.
“I’m so sorry, my sweet.” She sobbed. “This is all my fault.”
“Elphie, listen to me.” She hastened to her friend’s side, gripping her shoulders and trying to catch the downturned green eyes. The tears running down her face were reminiscent of the night of the Ozdust. And just like that night, Glinda wiped them away. “None of this is your fault. There is much blame to be thrown around, but it isn’t your fault.”
“How can you still stand by me after I ruined your life?”
Glinda knew the answer to that. Deep down, she knew exactly why she got on that train, that broom, and she knew why things would never work out between her and Fiyero. She just didn’t know if she was ready to admit it to herself and subsequently the girl in front of her.
Today seemed to be a day of Glinda being brave, though, because she smiles, feeling a tear of her own escape the prison of her eyes. “Because I love you.”
Those crystalline eyes widened and Glinda’s breath was stolen away by how heartbreakingly beautiful the sight in front of her. And despite everything, despite her hunger, her thirst, and her complex emotions, she knew that she would not have made any other decision if given another chance.
She barely heard the question out of Elphie’s lips before she leaned in, her head spinning in a light, almost giddy sensation as her lips brushed green ones.
The kiss was soft, gentle, and it was better than Glinda ever dreamed it would be, with only the moon and stars to bear witness. Elphaba’s chapped lips moved against hers in a mesmerising way. Their tears mixed and Glinda tasted salt, but she didn’t mind. Every single detail was beautiful.
Much to Glinda’s disappointment, they eventually had to part. She contented herself in leaning her forehead against Elphie’s. Her Elphie.
This was what she chose. She thought, closing her eyes. And she wouldn’t trade it for the world.
***
Glinda panted, ducking behind a building into a dark alleyway. Things had gone so horribly wrong. This was just supposed to be an outing to buy some groceries in the nearby town. She had never expected the Gale Force to show up.
She needed to get back to Elphie and warn her.
“Glinda?” Elphaba questioned, a worried look on her face when Glinda ducks in their little cottage. It was unassuming and something they’d — warily — come to call home over the past year. It was a welcome change of pace after the first few years of being on the run with nowhere to truly settle. “What’s wrong, my sweet?”
Glinda doubled over, placing her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. She’d begrudgingly given up her heels after a while on the run and after Elphaba’s requests, but she refused to give up good fashion and unfortunately, the dress she’d chosen wasn’t the best for running.
She felt rough hands cup her face as the green girl patiently awaited an answer.
“Gale Force.” Glinda finally managed.
Green eyes widened with alarm. “Where? Are you hurt?”
“In the town. And I’m fine. They didn’t notice me.”
Elphaba sighed, her hands flying up to massage her temples. “What does this mean?” Elphaba asked.
“Things are getting worse.” Glinda answers quietly. “We can’t stay here.”
“Where do we go?”
Glinda contemplated it and her mind landed on the one option that might be their safest bet. Problem was that it was the one option Elphaba wouldn’t like.
It wasn’t that she didn’t miss her sister. In fact, she even admitted to missing her one night when Glinda had shared how much she missed her parents. But to go back to Munchkinland and ask for Nessa’s help would not please Elphaba. And if she knew her girlfriend — which she did — she would vehemently disagree with the idea. But they didn’t have any other choice.
“We could go to Munchkinland… to Nessa.”
“What?” Elphaba’s eyes snap up. “No, we can’t.”
“Elphie, we don’t have any other option. Just look at our position. If we stay here, we’ll be discoverated, we can’t go to my parents because they’re Gillikinese and that’s where the Wizard has the most control, and Fiyero is the captain of the guard.” She laid a hand on her shoulder. “Munchkinland isn’t too fond of the Wizard right now. It’s our best option.”
Elphaba’s eyes studied her face for long moments before her tense shoulders slumped. “We’ll leave when it gets dark.”
And so they did. They cleared all their belongings. Anything that may lead people to them was destroyed. They packed sparingly. Only choosing to take what little food they had and their clothes.
Life on the run had been hard on both of them. While Elphaba put on a strong front and tried to be brave, Glinda was a lot more susceptible to showing her emotions. The first year had been the hardest with them having to forgo every comfort they’d once had and taken advantage of. They were constantly on the lookout and on edge, they rarely ever caught a break. They slept in slums and forests, and spent a lot of time in the sky — which Glinda hated — and had to forage for food or live off scraps. Glinda was still terrified and she knew Elphaba was too. It led to many arguments between the two of them which often ended with them cuddling or kissing, or with their clothes off.
Glinda and Elphaba had each other through it all and that’s what made it okay.
As long as you’re mine.
It was a sentiment they’d repeated to each other on the days where things were particularly bad. It was the one thing that kept Glinda going on those days.
Once the sun had set and the rest of the world seemed to have gone to sleep, Glinda touched Elphaba’s shoulder, waking her from her light slumber. The two of them slinked outside into the night, Elphaba hesitating only for a moment before climbing onto the broom, waiting for Glinda to do the same and wrap her arms around her waist before taking off.
***
After a long, dreadful journey that took a duration of two nights with breaks taken during the daytime to avoid being seen. Thankfully, the forest they were staying in wasn’t too far from Munchkinland.
They touched down just outside the grounds of the Eminent Thropp’s mansion. The guards cast one long glance over the newcomers.
“Who are you and state your business.”
Though they looked they knew who they were all too well. Glinda wasn’t surprised. She was pretty sure all of Oz knew. At least Glinda could pass as a more unassuming citizen and blend in with the crowds, Elphaba, however, could not.
She laid a hand on Elphaba’s back to stop her from doing or saying anything rash. She felt the shift in Elphaba’s back muscles as she inhaled.
“I am Elphaba Thropp, sister of Nessarose. I wish to see her.”
The two guards exchanged a glance. “I’m sorry, maam, we can’t allow you through.”
Elphaba bristled. “I am her sister!”
“Yes, well…” The guard on the right spoke nervously. “She’s not accepting any visitors.”
“Please. Leave.” Said the guard on the left.
Just when Elphaba looked like she was about to argue even more, a familiar voice cut through the air, though it was far from the one Glinda expected.
“Let them through.”
The guards looked at the redhead in shock. “B-But Master Boq-”
“Let them through.” He enunciated each syllable clearly, glaring at the two.
The guards had no choice but to acquiesce and open the gates.
Glinda took a good look at the munchkin who once had a crush on her. Or maybe he still did, she didn’t know. Still, it was oddly comforting to see a familiar face. He was out of his Shiz uniform, in some sort of fancy servant’s uniform and, apart from that, he hadn’t changed much. No. There was a distinct look in his eyes, a sadder, more tortured look.
“Boq? What are you doing here?” Elphaba was the first to speak.
“I… I’ll take you to Nessa.” His eyes lingered on Glinda for far longer than she found comfortable and she felt Elphaba’s arm twine around hers, almost possessively. “It’s good to see you again Miss Glinda. Miss Elphaba.”
He led them through the winding halls of the Thropp mansion — the other servants either ignoring them or casting weird glances — and stopped at a door. “This is where I leave you.” He hesitates before adding. “Good luck.”
What was that supposed to mean?
“You want to go alone or…?”
Elphaba shook her head. “I want- I need you with me.”
And who was Glinda to say no to that? So Glinda followed her into Nessarose Thropp’s… office? She guessed from the table and the clutter of papers and books everywhere. Nessa herself sat at the desk, bent over a book.
Nessa gazed up at her sister for long moments, her expression indecipherable. She clears her throat before speaking. “State your business.”
“Nessa…” Glinda could hear the tiny crack that most people would have missed in her voice. “How have you been?”
“Why would you care?”
Glinda slinked into the corner, trying to make herself unseen as the sisters talked, resisting the urge to defend Elphie. She wouldn’t intervene in their much needed conversation.
“Nessa, I’ve always cared.”
“Is that so, Wicked Witch?”
Elphaba flinched. Glinda’s muscles tightened, fighting the need to be there next to her, comforting her.
“Nessa please, we need your help.”
This time, Glinda saw the flicker of emotion in Nessa’s eyes. It was there clear as day — pain.
“And why should I help you? Why should I risk my people’s lives to help you? I’m the eminent now, you know. You weren’t even here when Father died, Elphaba!”
Elphaba stepped back as though she’d been slapped. “He’s… dead?”
“You didn’t know.” Nessa says softly, realisation dawning upon her features. “He… He died of shame shortly after he learned how you disgraced him.”
Every time Glinda heard more about this man, her hatred towards him increased. She knew the rule of not speaking ill of the dead, but she had plenty of choice words for him.
Elphaba was quick to school her features into a practiced nonchalance. “Good. I’m glad. It’s better.”
“That’s a wicked thing to say!”
“You know me. I’m wicked.”
“Yes, you are. You have the Grimmerie, don’t you? And you never once tried to help me. You fly around on that broomstick helping all those Animals you don’t know, but won’t help your own sister.” Nessa wheeled herself out from behind the desk.
“I do. But it’s dangerous, Nessa.”
“Show me.”
“What?”
“I want to see it. You want my protection? Show me the Grimmerie.”
Glinda wanted so badly to tell Nessa off, but she stuck to her position by the wall.
Elphaba pulled the book out of her bag and set it on the table. Nessa scanned the book, her eyes full of wonder and awe.
“I-I could…” Elphaba stammers. Then her eyes land on Nessa’s bejewelled shoes. And Glinda got a feeling that she knew exactly what Elphaba was planning. It was one of her main sources of guilt, the reason she felt like she owed something to her sister. Despite Glinda’s attempts to tell her otherwise, she knew the guilt that Elphaba carried remained deep inside her heart.
“How?”
“Please, Nessa. For once, just trust me.”
Nessa relaxed with a sigh. “Alright.”
Elphaba stepped forward, kneeling before the girl and touching her shoes, chanting something under her breath.
When she finally straightened, Nessa frowned. “What was that supposed to do?”
“Can you try to stand?”
Nessa’s eyes widened and she quickly placed her hands on the arms of her wheelchair as she hoisted herself up.
On her first step, she stumbled. Elphaba rushed forward to help her, but Nessa simply held her hand up and continued.
Soon, her steps, albeit still unsteady, were more confident.
Nessarose Thropp was walking.
She made her way over to the door, opening it and summoning Boq who was waiting outside patiently.
He slowly, nervously almost, made his way inside, eyes wide when he saw Nessa on her own two feet.
“Isn’t it wonderful, Boq!” She cried happily. “You and I can fully be together now!”
Boq’s throat bobbed with a swallow. “Nessa, I have something to confess.”
An uneasy feeling churned in Glinda’s stomach. She looked across the room and met Elphie’s eyes; the same uneasiness was displayed in them.
“I don’t share your affections.”
Nessa’s face fell. “What?”
“It was an act. From the beginning. I was always in love with Miss Glinda. That’s where my heart lies. I cannot, in good conscience, lie anymore. Not when…” He tried to meet Glinda’s eyes, but Glinda actively avoided his. Her heart belonged to Elphaba, her Elphie, no one else could ever hope to contest.
Nessa heaves out a harsh breath as her fuming eyes find Glinda and if looks could kill, Glinda would be nothing more than a pile of ashes. “You. You did this.” Her wild eyes flew back to Boq as she marched over to Grimmerie. “You know what, it doesn’t matter because you will love me.”
“Nessa,” Elphaba warned. “Nessa, don’t!”
The ancient book flipped open to a page and Nessa began chanting messily.
Glinda finally decided to detach herself from the wall and join her beloved. “How can she read it?”
“She can’t!” Elphaba stared in horror. “Or not well, at least.”
“Elphie, what is it doing?”
There was a horrible, strangled, sound as Boq clutched his chest and fell to his knees.
“Nessa stop!” Elphaba yelled. This seemed to get through to Nessa for she stopped chanting and stared at the mess she’d created horrified.
“What- What is it doing?” She asked, tears streaming down her cheeks as another choked sound tore out of Boq’s throat.
“Shrinking his heart.” Elphaba whispered.
“No.” Nessa shook her head. “No. You have to reverse it.”
“I can’t. Once a spell from the Grimmerie has been cast, it can’t be reserved.”
“Then save him! Please, save him.” The girl sobbed, thrusting the Grimmerie into Elphaba’s hands.
The book flipped to another page. “Nessa, this book did this to him. Using it to save him might not have the intended effect.”
“Please.” She begged hoarsely.
Elphaba spared a brief glance at Glinda, allowed her head to fall and soon, she began chanting.
Glinda and Nessa watched Boq intently. Unfortunately, this meant they got to witness it as it happened. They got to witness the steel creeping up, replacing his skin, and watched as his limbs turned to metal joints as a scream tore out of him.
Elphaba stopped chanting once the transformation was over and her horror was evident. “What have I done?” She whispered.
“Elphie,” Glinda tried, but her words didn’t get through to the green girl.
“You!” Nessa turned her accusatory glare to Elphaba. “If you hadn’t shown me that book, none of this would have happened!”
“Don’t blame her!” Glinda defended, stepping in front of Elphie protectively. “This is on you!”
“And you.” Her lips curled distastefully. “You stole him away from me.”
“Glinda did no such thing. Boq was infatuated with her. It wasn’t her fault.”
“Leave!” Nessa said angrily. “And don’t come back!”
Elphaba agreed without much argument.
***
“Do you realise how risky it is?”
“Exactly.” Elphaba said. “Which is exactly why I don’t want you coming along. Find someplace safe to stay and wait for me, my sweet.”
“You expect me to just let you go on this suicide mission alone?”
“I have to free the Monkeys Glinda.”
Glinda sighed. “Is there anything I can say to talk you out of this?”
Elphaba pressed a kiss to Glinda’s lips. One that’s over all too quickly. “Hold out, my sweet. Be safe.”
Soon she’s off on her broom and Glinda watched, worry aching her heart.
Elphaba would be okay. She had to be.
***
It had been far too long since Elphaba had left and Glinda felt the worry coursing through her veins in lieu of blood.
There was a soft noise behind her and she turned. At the sight of green skin, Glinda thought she’d imagined Elphaba, conjured her out of pure worry. But then Elphaba stumbled into her arms and Glinda melted into the embrace, soaking in the contact.
Every second they were separated was always a cause for worry.
“Oh thank Lurline.” She breathed. “Are you ok? Are you hurt?” She pulled away, surveying her girlfriend. Her eyes passed a couple of scrapes and bruises and, as much as it pained her to see, those weren’t a cause for much worry. What did worry her was the new level of tiredness and pain in those green eyes.
“I’m fine. Mostly.”
“Where are the Monkeys?” Glinda finally out of her head — and Elphaba’s arms — noticed the utter lack of the winged primates.
“About that,” Elphaba smiled. “I may have solved our problem. Well, Fiyero did.”
“Fiyero?” Glinda furrowed her brows. When the news of the new captain of the guard came out, both Glinda and Elphaba were unsurprisingly shocked. They had been quite angry at him too. But eventually, they learned to let it go. Fiyero must have had his reasons and Glinda couldn’t quite blame him when she was so close to making a similar choice.
“I ran into him. He helped me escape. Anyway, he has a castle we could use as a hideout. It’s abandoned so it’s perfect. The Monkeys are already there.”
“Are you sure we can trust him?”
“Glinda, we have no other options. And this way, we don’t have to keep running.”
Glinda sighed. “You’re right. Let’s go.”
Elphaba grabbed Glinda’s hand and placed a chaste kiss on it. “As long as you’re mine.”
“As long as you’re mine.”
Glinda would give it to Fiyero. She doubted anyone would figure out there was any life in this place. Towering, dark, and terrifying enough to scare anyone away.
It’s bigger than anything Glinda had ever known. Even before becoming a fugitive, Glinda would have been impressed by the sheer size of the place. She, unfortunately couldn’t say the same about the interiors.
“They’re terrible, Elphie.” She bemoaned. “So droll and dark and dusty.”
“Well it has been unoccupied for a while.” She could hear the fond amusement in Elphie’s voice. “We could clean it up.” Her arms encircled Glinda’s waist, securing the blonde against her chest. “Later.”
“T-The Monkeys, Elphie.” She stuttered.
“They won’t disturb us.” Elphie’s lips landed on Glinda’s collarbone and her brain stuttered to a stop.
She supposed no one would miss them.
***
Elphaba gazed up at the restless sky. Though the restlessness was far away from the Vinkus, hovering over Munchkinland. And said restlessness wasn’t exactly restlessness as much as a house carried by a twister. Was that classified as restlessness?
They were very rudely interrupted when they heard strange noises and had rushed out onto a balcony, hurriedly putting their clothes back on to see what the commotion was.
“Nessa.” Elphaba whispered, clutching her head.
“What happened?” Glinda clutched Elphie’s shoulders. “A vision?”
Elphaba nodded. “I need to go!”
“I’m coming with you.”
“My sweet-”
“I’m coming with you.” She repeated.
Elphaba looked like she wanted to argue, but one glance at the twister nearing Munchkinland had her agreeing. She didn’t have time to argue.
They touched down on the cornfield on the outskirts of Munchkinland. “Stay here.”
Glinda nodded, watching the silhouette of the witch getting smaller before it disappeared in a puff of red smoke.
After what feels like an hour of waiting, but was probably only ten or fifteen minutes, another puff of red smoke signified Elphie’s return.
She couldn’t make it all the way to Glinda before her knees gave out. Glinda rushed forward to meet her girlfriend.
Judging by the distraught expression on her face, Glinda can guess what happened.
“Sh-She’s gone.” Elphaba choked.
“Morrible.” Glinda mused.
Elphaba nodded.
“She gave the shoes to that girl.” She spits.
“Girl?”
“Some farmgirl. She owned the house.”
“Oh Elphie, I’m so sorry.”
“Look what we have here.” A spine chilling voice interrupted them. Glinda hadn’t heard that voice in years apart from her nightmares. “Two witches caught in a trap.”
Elphaba’s voice trembled when she spoke, rising to her feet as she did so. Whether it was from rage, grief, or a mix of both, Glinda couldn’t tell. “I can’t believe you’d be so cruel as to do such a thing. Actually I can believe it.”
Morrible rolled her eyes. “Spare me the theatrics, Miss Elphaba. Though it is nice to see you again.”
“Can’t say the time.”
Those unsettlingly stormy eyes moved to her, her lips curling in distaste. “I had hoped you’d succumbed to an illness or something.”
“Leave her out of it.” Elphaba hissed.
“That’s quite impossible, Miss Elphaba.” Morrible drawled, nearing the girl. She waved her hand when she was standing face to face with her.
Gale Force members rushed out grabbing onto Elphaba as she tried to fight them off. But there were too many and as strong as Elphaba was, she wouldn’t be able to fight them all off.
“No!” Glinda screamed.
An assailant of her own came from her right. Glinda swung at him, landing a lucky punch to his throat. He sputtered, gasping for air and clawing at his throat. Glinda picked up his dropped gun, doing the only thing she could think to do. She rushed behind the woman who was watching the chaos with a sadistic smile, watching as Elphie suffered, and pressed the barrel against the woman’s back.
“Tell them to let her go.”
“This isn’t smart, Miss Glinda.” Morrible grit out, her frame uncommonly rigid. “I’m a sorceress.”
“Let her go!” She yelled, her voice carrying across the cornfield. The soldiers paused in their activities, no doubt confused by the small blonde who had spoken. They soon notice the gun and freeze. “Or I’ll kill her.”
Elphie’s eyes met hers, and through the chaos, Glinda realised exactly what she had to do.
“Go!”
“No. No, I’m not leaving you.”
“Elphie, I’ll be with you soon. Run!”
A sinking feeling cursed her stomach and Glinda knew it well: fear. This was true fear, she realised. She didn’t know which scared her more, losing Elphaba or losing the possibility of the life she could have had with Elphaba. They’d been through so much together, it couldn’t end now.
Their eyes met, both tear filled and entire lifetimes passed between them.
“Go.” Glinda breathes again.
Elphaba tore her eyes away, mounting the broom and disappearing into the clouds just as Glinda's gun crumpled in her hands.
“Weather may be my specialty, Miss Glinda, but that doesn’t mean I’m not capable of performing other forms of magic.”
Glinda gasped as two pairs of rough hands grabbed her arms.
“Wait,” Glinda’s eyes widened. She knew that voice. “isn’t this a bit harsh?”
What was Fiyero doing here?
“I disagree. There should be an example made out of traitors.”
Fiyero’s panicked eyes roved between the guards and Glinda.
“You asked to come along despite this being out of your jurisdiction, Captain.” Morrible’s stormy gaze fixed itself on him. “Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts or thinking of trying something.”
Fiyero swallowed and his eyes were cast down. “No Madame.”
“Good. Take her away.”
Something sharp and hard made contact with her head and it lolled forward, her mind trying to grasp the last strings of consciousness before she slipped into darkness.
Glinda woke to pain. Pain that exploded in her abdomen and throbbed in the back of her head. “Where is the witch?” One of them asked, roughly grabbing her face. Glinda didn’t want any of his meaty fingers near her. “Pretty little thing. I’d hate to ruin that.”
“Too bad she’s consorting with the witch now.” Another man snickered. “I would’ve loved a go.”
Glinda gathered whatever courage she had, abandoning all her manners and spat in his face.
His face crumpled, contorting with fury as his hand made contact with her face, sending it to the side. Her cheek was lit on fire. Now that she could see better, she could see that they were still in the cornfield, not the same location, but close enough. She had to get back to Elphie soon. She couldn’t make her wait.
The butt of the gun made contact with her again, breaking the skin of her face, the warm liquid dripping down her face.
Glinda thought she’d known pain. She hadn’t. Not truly. She hadn’t known pain until the butt of the gun or a boot made contact with every part of her body, the agony interrupted by periodic questions about Elphaba’s whereabouts. She didn’t spill, no once, no matter how painful it got, no matter how white her vision got. She would never put Elphie in danger.
She was going to die today. She knew that. But at least Elphie would be safe.
That’s her final thought as darkness consumed her.
“Glinda, I'm so sorry.”